Apparatus for coating and treating metallic materials



April 13 192.6. 1,580,890

J. L. HERMAN APPARATUS FOR COATING AND TREATING METALLIC MATERIALS Original Filed April 26. 1923 6 Sheets 3heet 1 lNY'gHIElR- jw KM fflz April 13 1926. 1,580,890

J. L. HERMAN APPARATUS FOR COATING AND TREATING METALLIC MATERIALS Original Filqd April 26. 1923 6 5 t 5 t 2 lnzz'zntmaf wm April 13 1926. 1,580,890

J. L. HERMAN APPARATUS FOR COATING AND TREATING METALLIC MATERIALS Original Filed April 26. 1923 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April as 1926. 1,580,890

J. L. H ERMAN APPARATUS FOR COATING AND TREATING METALLIC MATERIALS Original Fil d April 23 e Sheets-Sheet )mnlllullls"1mm April 13 1926. 1,580,890

J. 1.. HERMAN APPARATUS FOR COATING AND TREATING METALLIC MATERIALS Original Filed April 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I93 I i5 55 IN JENIDR.

April 13 1926? 1,580,890

J. L. HERMAN APPARATUS FOR COATING AND TREATING METALLIC MATERIALS Original Filed April 26. 1923 5 5 t 6 i 1 4- .LN'SZ'EN'IEJR-a I Patented Apr, 1?), 'ltlfitio ll i I A n '7 a JQSEPH 1L. HEREQIAN, Q35 Plfltfitiilh, TLLFLNGTS, ASSEGN'QR, T MIDLAND UFACTURIENG ELLEETQIS, A UURPGRATIQIT ILLXNQKS.

APPARATUQ l' 'filt coarma filhl'lD TREATJIlliit-l METALLTU IdfallEltIi-lilt'l.

original application filed April &6, that,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnrrr L. "HERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residin at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of 5 lllinois, have invented new and useful improvements in anApparatus for Coat n and Treating Metallic Materials, of while the following is a specification.

This invention has. reference to an ap'-.

paratus for coating and treating materials having an iron base and particularly "the coating and treatment of wire used in the fence industry and for telephone and other purposes.

The invention has for its principal ob ect to provide an apparatus for carrying out the process shown and described in Letters Patent issued to me @ctoloer 3, 1922, No, 1,430,- 648 for a process of coating and treating inaterials having an iron base.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a galvanizing apparatus a heat-- treating furnace adapted to receive and heat treat the coated wires immediately upon r their leavihg the molten-loath and in the provision of adjustable skimmers located between the molten-bath and entrance to the furnace, said skimmers adapted to remove skimmings, dross or other foreign matter which mightadhere to the molten coating metal as it leaves the molten-bath, hut without materially reducing the thickness or the amount of the coating metal on the wire, said Skimmers being arranged to be automatically operated loy contact of joints in the wires 'and to permit the passage of such joints without the formation of reachers.

This application is a division of the application filed by me April 26, 1923, hearing Serial No. 634,773..

That the invention may be more fully un derstood reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application illustrating a preferred embodiment invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the arrangement and combination,

of a complete unit in which my invention is embodied.

Figures 2, 3, and 4 when taken together illustrate in side elevation, partly in section, a complete galvanizing apparatus embodying my invention, and includes in addition to the heattreating furnace the annealer,

serial it'o. 6%,??3. hivided and this application filed Aprilfaerial No. 526,12

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view, partly in elevation, as the same would appear if taken on the line 66 Figure 5 and showing a wire to be heat-treated passing into the furnace and just prior to the actuation of the skimmer by a joint in the wire coming in contact therewith;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Flame 6, ex:- cept that it shows the joint in the wire in the act of operating a skimmer to permit the passage of the joint into the furnace;

Figure 8 is a detailed front elevation, partly in section, looking in at the skimmer structure shown at the right hand side of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a detail side elevation showing one modification or": the skimmer structure;

Figure 10 is a detail longitudinal sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the moditied skimmer construction with a joint in the wire just before it engages with the skimmer;

Figure 11 is a view similar to to Figure 10, except that the joint has entered into engagement with the skimmer and actuated the latter topermit the passage of the joint into the furnace;

Figure 12 is a detai in plan as the same would appear if taken on the line 12-12 Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a detail in elevation, partly in section, as the same would appear on the line 1313 of Figure 10;

Figure 14 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing a further modification of the skimmer mechanism;

Figure 15 is a' front elevation, partly broken away, of the modified structure shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is an elevation as the same would appear looking into the left hand end of Figure 14: on the line l616'ot said Figure 14,

Figure 17 is a detailed cross sectional view ins same would appear if taken on the line 1919 of Figure 17 Figure 20 is a sectional detail, in plan, as the same would appear if taken on the line 20-20 Figure 17;

Figure 21 is a detail cross sectional view, as the same would appear if taken on the line 21-21 Figure 18, and

Figure 22 is a detail sectional view of a thread shaft, as the same would appear on the line 2222 Figure l l.

Like characters of reference, denote corresponding parts throughout-the figures.-

The apparatus for carrying out the 1mproved process of coating and treating materials having an iron base, and preferably galvanized wire, such as is shown and described in my Patent No. 1,430,6t8 includes the annealer 1, preferably of the lead-pan type, although it may be of any other suitable structure; the acid-tanks 2 and 3 adapted to contain a suitable cleaning acid. I have elected to show two acid tanks, particularly in view of it being a continuous process; whereby when the acid in one tank becomes too weak or dirty that in the other tank may be used. iVhile they may be used simultaneously, it is preferable to use them alternately. The apparatus further includes a thin bath 4;, adapted to contain a suitable flaring material such as zinc chloride for the purposes which such fluxes are ordinarily used in coating processes of this character; a drier 5 to insure the material entering into the molten-bath in a comparatively dry state, and the molten-metal coating bath 6 which, in this instance, would contain spelter. Adjoining the molten-metal bath, for the purpose of heat-treating the coated material as it leaves said bath, is a heat-treating furnace 7 provided with one or more longitudinally disposed heat-treating chambers 8 through which the coated material is drawn and heattreated. Adjoining the heat-treating furnace 7 and adapted to receive the heattreated coating material, as it leaves the furnace, is a take-up frame 9. This take-up frame functions to keep thematerial under tension as it passes through the furnace and prevents whipping of such material, particularly wires, while passing through the furnace. Adjoining the take-up frame 9 is a water cooling table 10 over which the heattreated material passes before being coiled on blocks 11, of which there are preferably one for each of the wires coated and heattreated.

they leave .the reels 12 are drawn through the several units of the apparatus by the winding blocks 11 in as near a horizontal line as it is possible to carry the wires. The guiding and tensioning rollers over which the wires are carried tend to hold the wires tautand prevent vibration and whipping. It is not thought necessary to specifically refer to the guiding and tensioning rollers or other devices which are shown at suitable points throughout. .the apparatus, or the sinkers, shoes or tile which are employed in connection with certain of the units to hold the wires submerged in the liquids or molten metal contained therein. In each of the respective Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 a wire 13 is shown, being'the same wire throughout for the purpose of illustrating the use of the apparatus in the preparation of the wire, the coating thereof and the heat-treatment subsequent to the coating step. It is understood that in an apparatus of this character the structure would provide for the preparation, coating and heat-treating of a pinrality of wires.

In my Patent No. 1,4305% I brought out the fact that a process such as therein shown and described obviated the necessity of using wipers or other smoothing mediums for the coated wires leaving the molten-bath, and which heretofore were considered indispensable by all wire galvanizers. The reason for this is due to the action of the heat-- treating furnace which not only heat-treats per se, but also evens up the coating as though it had been passed between wipers. It is further stated in said patent that an other advantage in the climinationcf the wipers is that a heavier coating is permitted to remain on the wire, which in ordinary practice would be removed by the wipers as the wires pass therebetween. The fact that the coated. wire is not wiped as it leaves the molten-bath allows a heavier coating to remain upon the wire. Such wire when subjected to the action of the heat-treatment will not only cause the heavy coating to distribute itself around the wire but eliminates brittleness of the coating. Like in the process described in said patent, the present apparatus obviates the use of wipers; however, I provide Skimmers which are located between the molten-bath and the entrance to the heating chambers of the hot-treated furnace. 'lihese Skimmers neither wipe nor smooth the wires, as would wipers such as are ordinarily used. In the art of galvanizing several different types of wipers are employed, designated as pressure-wipers, of

reeoeeo skimmings and foreign matter' in a ,wellknown manner by the use of salammoniac, but this practice is recognized as being too costly for wire galvanizing purposes, and therefore to' insure that the coated wires shall enter the heat-treating furnace free of all dross, skimmings and foreign matter, I have. provided mechanical skimmers which accomplish the purpose sought but without in any way removing the molten-metal ad hering to the wires. Furthermore, as will be explained, the skimmers which I employ, not only prevent reachers forming on the wires, but such skimmers are adapted tobe actuated by the joints in the wires to permit their passage of the latter into the furnace.

The preferred skimmer structure is shown in Figures 5 to 8 both inclusive, dotted lines indicating in a diagrammatic way the application of the skimmer structure to the front end of the furnace 7, see Figure 3.- As will be understood, there is a skimmerfor each wire 13 leaving the coating bath and entering the furnace, and each skimmer preferably includes twomembers 18 and 19 in superim osed relation. Said members are remova 1e, adjustable and interchangeable in upstanding guides 20 provided on a support 21 connected with a housing 22 supported on the front end wall of the furnace and extending transversally thereof and positioned in front of the entrance end of the heat-treating chambers 8 whereby the wires 13 may be guided into said heating chambers. The housing 22 is separated into a plurality of spaced chambers 23 se arated from each other by the lon itudina artitions 24 at the forward on s of whic are disposed the guides 20 formed with vertically disposed grooves 25 in their opposite faces for the insertion and removal of the skimmer members and in which the members 19 hold'their position bywei ht of gravity, or in other words, merely oat in the guides and are adapted to be turned by contact of the joints 13 in the wires 13;

u again dropping into position as the joints 13 pass beneath the members 19. The members 18 of the skimmers have opposite polygonal ends 26 to adapt them to have a sliding relation in the grooves 25 ofthe guides 20 to provide for the turning of the members 18 after they have been removed.

from the guides and reinserted to present new surfaces to the wires 13 passing over the same into the furnace. As shown in Figure 8 the members 18 of the skimmers are provided with oppositely converging surfaces terminating in a concentric groove or slot 27 and said members when in position rest upon stems 28 secured in the support 21, space being left there. for the drip of skimmings, dross or foreign matter removed from the coating on the wires '13 by the skimmers, which preferably drains into the molten-metal-bath 6, this being made possible by the location of the skimmers above the molten-metal-bath 6, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3. The members 19 of the skimmers comprise disks 29 having the oppositely dispoed tapered perlpheries terminating in a centrally disposed concentric groove or slot 30 corresponding to the groove 27in the-lower members 18. The width and depth of the grooves or slots 27 and 30 of the respective skimmer members will be determined by the gauge or the size of the-wires that are to be passed therebetween. 'Each of the disks 29 com- ;prising the member 19, are provided with trunnions 31 -which. have bearings. in the grooves 25 of the guides 20 and will allow for the raising and turning of said members 19 through contact of the joints 13 in the" WlIESil therewith. In active position the skimmer members-wrest upon the skimmer members 18 their sloping or tapered surfaces being of such a character that the slots or grooves in the said members form an" opening between the same for the passage of the coated wires 13 there-between, said slots or grooves together providing an opening of sufiicient size .to permit. the bodies of the coated wires to pass there-between without any wiping or smoothing action of the skimmer members on the coating itself, but,

acting to skim the coatings'of any -dross,

skimmings or foreign matter whichmight collect on the coatings'as the wiresleave the molten-metahbath. The operation of pass-- .ing the bodies of the coated wires 13 between the skimmer members 18 and 19,

when in their normal position is best seen in Figure 6. In said figure. and in Figure .7 two lengths of wire' 13 are shown joined in the customary manner by joints 13?, When this joint comes into contact with the skimmer it will both raise and turn the floating member 19 so as to permit the joint to pass the skimmers and to'enter the. heat-treating furnace. It will be observed that the skimmers act upon the body of the coated wires- 13 up to the point of the contact of the twisted portion of one joint 13 before the floating member 19 is acted upon the'latter' dropping back into position immediately upon the other coil of the joint passing such skimmer and thereby obviate the formation of marchers.- This eliminates the reacher losses formed in other well known methods of galvanizing and particularly where wipers are used. It will be observed looking at the housing 22, both in front and sectional elevations, that there is very little, if-

any, space left around the Skimmers through which air might enter and thus reduce the temperature of the heat-treating chambers of the furnace. Each of the chambers 23 in the housing 22 is provided with a hinged lid or cover 32 to permit access to be had into such chambers and into the entrance ways of the heating chambers of the furnace.

' the guide 20. Secured to the rear face of block 46 so as-to permit the joint to the block 46 is a plate 47, see Figure" 13 which has theoppositely tapered or wedgeshaped -lower end 48 converging into a groove or slot 49 to co-act with the groove or slot 27 in the lower skimmer member 18, the plate-47 resting upon the lower skimmer member 18 and functioning somewhat in the same manner as the skimmer member 19.

Connected with the front face of the block 46 is a plate 50 which is formed at its lower end with the angularly inturned portion 51 presenting a sloping surface having cam like action when a joint 13 on a wire 13 passes there-beneath. The joint coming into contact with the angular end 51 of the plate 50 will raise the block in manner similar to the raising of the member 19,-said block immediately ,droppingback into operative position upon the passage of the joint beneath the angular end 51.- The plate 47 functions together with the lower member 18 to skim the -dross, skimmings or other foreign matter which may collect on the coatings of the wires as they leave "the metal coating bath; whereas the angular portion 51 of the plate 50 is the means engaged by a joint in the wine for the raising of the ass into the furnace. It being understoo of course that the plates 47. and 50 ride with the block 46 and are removable'therewith, beilng preferably secured thereto by the same bo ts.

The blocks 46 with the plates are removable a'nd interchangeable on the support 21 for the same reason as the members 19, and the lower skimmer members 18 inthe modified structure may have their positions changed in like manner as in-Figures 5 to 8, both inclusive. The period of time that the skimmer members may be used without having their surfaces changed which are presented to the coated wires, or replaced, is indefinite, but the slots or grooves in the members presented to the coated wires will occasionally clog up and thereby interfere with the opening between the skimmer mem-' bers and the passage of the coated wires, ne-

cesSitating that these surfaces be occasionally changed. In the formshown in Figures 5 to 8 both inclusive, and 9 to 13 both inclusive it is necessary for the manual manipulation of the lower members 18 to change their positions to present new surfaces to the coated wires. In the modified form which I am now about to describe this change is made mechanically and automatically.

Referring now to Figures 14 to 22, both inclusive which shows a further modified form of the skimmer structure it is to be pointed out that such changes as will be described make it possible to reduce the depth of the chambers 23 in the housing 22, as is best. seen in Figures 17 and 18.

In place of a plurality of the lower skimmer. membersh18, previously described, I provide a threaded shaft 53 the pitch between the adjacent threads or convolutions, and the character of such threads being determined by the gauge of the wires coated and heat-treated. The threads or convolutions of the shaft 53 function exactly like the grooves or slots in the lower skimmer members 18 previously described and coacting with said threaded shaft 53 are a plurality of spaced ring-like members 54 which take the place of the disks 19. The ring-like members are preferably internally threaded as at 55 and meshing with the threads of each member is a small pinion secured on a shaft 57 preferably arranged eccentric to the axis of the ring-like members, bearings for the shaft being connected to the housing 22 and disposed between the ring-like members as shown. The threaded shaft 53 and the shaft 57 are in spaced parallel relation one above the other and the arrangement is 'such that the Ting-11in: members 54 are gradually turned to change the surface presented to the coated wire passing between the threaded shaft and such ring-like members The ring-like members float on the pinions 56 and are adapted to be raised, somewhat as shown in Figure 18 when the joints in the wires come into contact therewith, which is the action in the preferred form of the skimmer, as shown in Figures 5 to 8 both inclusive. The entrance to the housing 22 for the respective wires entering there-into have beveled surfaces 58, as shown in Figure 20 for the accurate guiding of the wires there-into and for the guides of the joints 13 of the wires 13.

The mechanism for operating the shafts 53 and 57 respectively, includes a driving shaft 59 shown in dotted lines in Figures 14 and 16 which may receive itspower from any suitable source and to which is connected a worm 60 meshing with and driving a worm wheel 61 secured to a shaft 62. This latter shaft and a rail 63 arranged in. parallel spaced relation thereto constitute guides for a frame 64 adapted to have a slidable relation therewith, and located. intermediate the shaft 62 and the rail 63 isthe threaded shaft 53 which has connection with the frame 64 and movable therewith.- Having a spline and groove connection with the shaft 62, is a small gear wheel 65 disposed within a guide 66 and said gear wheel 65 meshes with a much larger gear wheel 67 secured on the threaded shaft 53. To insure the feeding of the shaft 53 as it is slowly rotated through the gearing just described, I provide the plurality of plate members 68 which are adjustably connected to the housing 22, as best seen in Figures 17 and j 19, said plates having toothed upper ends 69 which mesh with the threads or convolutions on the threaded shaft 53 and also act as guides to correctly position the threads or convolutions on the shaft in relation to the ring-like members 54 and properly position and hold such threads or eonvolutions in relation to the coated wires which are mechanical means continuously and automatically; it being understood, of course, that the speed at which the shafts 53 and 57 are ro ated is extremely slow,'and it is,

preferabl and a more satisfactory practice to operate the shaft 53 much slower than the shaft 57. i

I have shown the skimmers located so that v the drip will drain back into the moltenmetal-bath. I do not desire by this showing to exactly locate the skimmers as it may be found desirable to drip back into a separate receptacle located between the baths and the heat-treating furnace, and thereby provide for bringing the operator into much closer contact with his work.

What I claim is I 1. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in combination with a tank containing a molten-metal bath, of skimmers between which the coated wires pass-as they leave the bath,

n'iight adhere to the coating as the wires leave the bath without materially reducing the thickness of the coating, each skimmer including a member adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wires as they pass between the skimmers.

2. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in combination with a tank containing a molten-metal bath, of skimmers between which the coated wires pass as they leave the bath, said skimmers adapted to remove skimn'iings, dross or other foreign matter which might adhere to the coating as the wires leave the bath without materially reducing the thickness of the coating, each skimmer including a member adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wires as they pass between the skimmers, and to again assume their normal positions by weight of gravity after the passage of the joints in the wires.

3. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in combination with a tank containing a molten-metal bath, of skimmers between which the coated wires pass as they leave the bath,

said skimmers adapted to remove skim- .mings, dross or other foreign matter which might adhere to the coating as the wires leave the bath without materially reducing the thickness of the coating, eachskimmer comprisin a pair of adjustable members,

one of whlch is adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wires as they pass between the skimmers. 1

4. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in combination with a tank containing a molten-metal bath, of skimmers between which the coated wires pass as they leave the bath, said skimmers adapted to, remove skimmings, dross or other foreign matter which might adhere to the coating as the wires leave the bath without materially reducing the thickness of the coating, each skimmer comprising a pair of adjustable members, one of which is-adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wires as they pass be-. tween the skimmers, and to again assume,

their normal positions by weight of gravity after the passageof the joints in the wires.

5. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in,

combination with a tank containing a molten-metal bath, of skimmers between which the coated wires pass as they leave the bath, each skimmer including two members,

meansfor slowly rotating the skimmer members in comparison with the speed of the WLIBS assing there-between, one each of said skimmer members adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wiresas they pass there-betweeri and to again assume normal position after the passage of said joints.

6. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in

' combination with a tank containing a metal coating bath, of a heat-treating furnace next adjacent the bath for heat-treating the coated wires" as they leave the bath, and

Skimmers between the bath and the furnace between which the coated Wires pass, each skimmer including superimposed adjustable members, the upper one of which is adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wires to permit the passage of the joints from the bath into the furnace, said skimmers adapted to remove skimmings, dross or other foreign matter which might adhere to the coating as the wires leave-the bath and withmeaeeo out materially reducing the thickness of the coating.

7. In a wire galvanizing apparatus, in combination with a tank containing a mo1 ten-metal bath, of Skimmers between which the coated wiresass as they leave the bath, each skimmer inc uding twomembers, means for slowly rotating one member in relation to the other, and one of said members adapted to be raised by contact of joints in the wires as they pass" between said skimmer members. I

JOSEPH L. HERMAN. 

